Beatrice Portinari

Beatrice "Bice" di Folco Portinari[1] (Italian: [beaˈtriːtʃe portiˈnaːri]; 1265 – 8 or 19 June 1290) was an Italian woman who has been commonly identified as the principal inspiration for Dante Alighieri's Vita Nuova, and is also identified with the Beatrice who acts as his guide in the last book of his narrative poem the Divine Comedy (La Divina Commedia), Paradiso, and during the conclusion of the preceding Purgatorio. In the Comedy, Beatrice symbolises divine grace and theology. Quotes “I think what a wonderful thing life is, even in its most terrible aspects; and my soul is full of gratitude and love for God for this.” “In my Calvary I am not desperate. I know that at the end of the way Jesus is waiting for me.” “My days are not easy, they are hard, but sweet, because Jesus is with me, with my suffering, and gives me gentleness in loneliness and light in the darkness.” “To God I offer all the flowers of the world that have blossomed under the sun.” Internal link